Say goodbye to the dream

[Jason Strasser (strassa2)]

If you asked me this summer, there wasn't much chance that I wouldn't be playing professional poker for at least a little while after graduation. Well, this year I decided to put some energy into applying for jobs, and it turned out to go way better than expected... You dont need to know anything about finance to get a trading job, and they really look fondly on good poker skills, and some firms don't get too caught up with grades.

I had a good long thought about my options and in the end it comes down to the fact that I am likely at my most "marketable" to the trading world now. If I took time off for poker, I'd have a lot less leverage and would not be as young or seem as motivated/engaged in the eyes of some firms on wall street. I'd also look very desperate perhaps (IE, oh look he failed playing poker NOW he wants a finance job, he probably is just in it because his first option didnt work out, how motivated can he be?) In addition, with online poker very much looking like a crappy option, poker is a lot more unappealing as a career. Plus, I want to be involved in social circles that extend beyond poker social circles. All these factors led me to aggressively apply for jobs this recruiting season... Plus I am genuinely convinced this would be a great field for me to be in next year.

So with my sub-3 gpa, but beautiful looks and schmoozing abilities, I have an offer from Morgan Stanley trading single stock equity derivatives, and an offer from JP Morgan on their Commodities desk. I also am in late round interviews with a third firm (Goldman Sachs). There is no doubt I will end up at one of these companies this July.

I guess this post is a little depressing in a way, but I feel like I am probably making the best long-term decision for me, at the expense of living the life right out of college.

Any thoughts about these decisions, or the 2 firms I got offers from (I am undecided at the moment), or HU bankroll challenges would be appreciated. Right now I'm feeling pretty good about a life in New York working for a pretty good firm. The hours are something like 6:30am to between 5-8pm at night, so serious hours. Pay is probably exactly what you'd expect for a first year job on wall street, I'm not going to post numbers but your first guess is probably correct.

-Jason

[JaBlue]

[ QUOTE ]
Pay is probably exactly what you'd expect for a first year job on wall street, I'm not going to post numbers but your first guess is probably correct.


[/ QUOTE ]

can someone else guess this for me?

[lapoker17]

get a blog or something.

[Jason Strasser (strassa2)]

Pay is exteremly standard for these jobs across the board (IE all trading firms tend to offer similar packages).

Its like 60k base, 10k signing bonus, and performance bonus which can be between 0 and something like 50-100k I guess? Most probably make slightly less than 100k in their first year.

edit: reason i decided to post numbers is because they are incredibly standard and i dont think it will piss off anyone

[Jason Strasser (strassa2)]

my blog sucks

[raptor517]

congrats jason, once u get all set up making 70k a year, lemme know and u can invest my rakeback monies [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] seriously though, i think yer making a good decision. all the best. holla

[yvesaint]

well now 15-20 years down the line u can stroll into vegas and play the big game and pretend u are a big whale.....AND THEN CRUSH THEM bwahaha

[Daliman]

Is "failing" at poker really even in the realm of possibility for you? Whatever you decide, gl.

P.S. I thought you were studying some sort of microbiology or something.

[N 82 50 24]

good luck, i think you'll enjoy it if you can see past the early mornings and days you don't want to be there -- it's just a different mindset than poker even if you'll be using a lot of the same skills

[AMT]

i assume you wont stop playing, and if im correct in my assumption, i wish you the best of luck as a recreational/part time player and hope you'll stay on the boards